English

leopard eel

From leopard + eel, referencing the patterns of these animals.

A compound of leopard + eel

Ancient Greek λεόπαρδος ‘leopon, lipard’

Late Latin leopardus ‘leopon, lipard’

Old French leopard

Middle English leopard

Proto-Germanic *ēlaz

Proto-West Germanic *āl

Old English ǣl

Middle English el

English eel

Today it means

noun Any of species Siren reticulata of aquatic salamander, endemic to the southeastern United States, first formally described in 2018.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / leopard eel